# NTSB CEN10CA540: Beech E-90, N16LH, Colorado Springs, CO, September 5, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 4, 2010, 21:00 local (Sep 5, 2010, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Colorado Springs, CO - Coordinates: 38.805557, -104.700553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8056&lon=-104.7006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Post-impact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/700) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Post-impact: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77310 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA540 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77310/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77310 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA540 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane’s parking brake was properly set before diverting his attention to other tasks. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=1152914), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E-90, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=1152914), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Post-impact: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech E-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1152914), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following a night landing, the pilot taxied to the ramp and was marshaled into a parking space by ground crew personnel. The pilot stopped the twin-engine airplane and set the parking brake before continuing with other checklist items. Unbeknownst to the pilot, the airplane began to roll forward until it impacted a tug and ground power unit, located approximately 25 feet across the ramp. During the impact, the nose landing gear collapsed and the nose of the airplane came to rest on the rear of the tug, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative Following a night landing the pilot taxied to the ramp and was marshaled into a parking space by ground crew personnel. The pilot stopped the twin-engine airplane and set the parking brake before continuing with other checklist items. Unbeknownst to the pilot, the airplane with engines still running began to roll forward until it impacted a tug and ground power unit (GPU), located approximately 25 feet across the ramp. During impact the nose landing gear collapsed and the nose of the airplane came to rest on the rear of the tug. The pilot immediately shut down both engines, and he along with the three passengers exited the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and reported that the airplane’s forward fuselage had sustained structural damage during the accident. No anomalies were noted with the airplane's systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16LH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16LH-2024-05-01), registration cancelled 2024-05-01, S/N LW-217, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E-90 - Registry model: [Beech E-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e-90) (registry code 1152914) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LW-217 - Airframe hours: 4170 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-60A 1050 horsepower turbo prop; P&W CANADA PT6A-60A 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sundance Farms Inc. - Registered owner: Cape Lookout Marine Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 5, 2010 - Departed: ONO, Ontario, OR - Destination: COS, Colorado Springs, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: COS, Colorado Springs Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 2, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 7,444 total, 220 in this make and model, 5,480 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 32 °F - Observed at: COS ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77310. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339164&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339198&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.